January: Sanctity of Life Month

 

January is National Sanctity of Life Month. A month set aside by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 so, as a nation, we can remember the value of life. From conception to death, every human being has value, purpose and potential to bring light into the world. You have value because you were made in the image of God. You had value from the first spark of your cells. You have hope of the ministry of reconciliation with your Creator God until your last breath.

Whether a person is in the womb, may have an abnormality, or may be older and in need of constant care; their life has value. Life is sacred. We do not have the right to select who gets to continue the life God has already given them just because we find them undesirable.

We are called to be a voice for the voiceless.

That is, if you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the decision is already made. Jesus is LIFE. He is not about death. As a believer, you are an ambassador of Christ (Matt. 22) and called to be a light amidst the horrors of this world. To respect, cherish and protect each innocent life, born and unborn.

How can I say that? Because God says it.

*We know that God created all people and defines personhood in that we are created in His image. That every life holds value because God breathed that life into them.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.” Psalm 139:13

*Our value is based on the fact that we are His, created for a purpose, and He knows each one of us.

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-22

*We have a duty to God.

Our first duty is to “Love the Lord your God” and close second is “Love your neighbor (anyone else)”. Matthew 22:36-39. The Word also tells us to make ourselves a living sacrifice (Romans 12); that we are created for good works (Ephesians 2:10); to be good stewards of all He created (Genesis 2:15; to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17) and not to be wise in our own eyes, to fear the Lord and turn from evil (Proverbs 3:7).

*We must protect the innocent.

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” Proverbs 24: 11-12

“Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.” Jeremiah 22:3

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13

*We must not sacrifice our children because that is an abomination to the Lord (Leviticus 18:21 & Psalm 106:37-38).  Children are an inheritance, a reward of the womb (Psalm 127:3).

If we are to walk out God’s Word in our daily lives, we would encourage, support, and protect the younger, the innocent, those who need help making it through this world. Or into it.

The World

The world has been telling our children that we evolved from pond scum since Darwin’s theory was accepted in the 1950s. That we are animals that somehow created logic. That we can’t control ourselves. That we should just let ‘nature take its course’ between two people if they so desire. “They” say our value is relative to what we do, who we know, and what we provide society. That personhood can’t be defined. It’s all about what the self desires. That we can destroy the innocent in the process.

The chains starting falling off in the 60s (and some of them needed to) and when the 80s were over, there were no chains or rock solid foundations. Total free-for-all. Sex was now for pleasure more than a marital gift of pleasure and children. Families eroded. Abortion was legal and the rate was climbing. Margaret Sanger created the empire that is Planned Parenthood to fulfill her desire to rid the world of undesirables.

Feminism was no longer about equal rights for women, stronger families and empowering motherhood. It was confiscated into a political vice to raise more money for abortionists and birth control. (Read, “Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women’s Movement” by Sue Ellen Browder)

Our society believes no one can control themselves. That we are just sexual animals that need to be free. That belief destroys one’s self-worth. Leads to bad decisions. Horrible consequences.

Today, abortion surgeries are a close second to the abortion pill. In the recent four years, all safety protocols have been taken off and girls can now make a call to set up a ‘home abortion’.

No doctors. No one to confirm the pregnancy. No one to see them afterwards and make sure they aren’t hemorrhaging. No one to help them cope with what they will see.

Looking over the history of abortion in America, we can see how horribly wrong this humanistic thinking is. How it only brings us closer to the Days of Noah. How decades of deceit have clouded our judgement.

HOPE

But we have HOPE. We know the One True Living God who HEALS, who FORGIVES. So, when our eyes are opened to the Light, we can help those still stuck in the muck to become free.

 

One of Ronald Reagan’s famous quotes appears this month especially,

“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”

 

Among the living, you will find those filled with the Spirit. Shining the Light of Truth, of Healing, of Lovingly Merciful Forgiveness, as the Lord Jesus reconciles all back to Himself.

This is an overwhelming topic. Kids having kids. Save the unborn. Love the mother/family. Change society’s laws. Heal the brokenhearted. Empower motherhood. Where to start?

It takes a community. It takes exactly what God called us to be- ‘His Family’. This is why He says, “Love one another” because in that love He can do great things through us. In that love, we can protect the sanctity of life.

New to the discussion? Check out these links and resources below.

Blessings,

Diane J

 

 https://www.liveaction.org/     (lots of videos and information)

https://www.care-net.org/   (trainings, articles, church outreach, pregnancy center support)

https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/womb-2005-toby-mcdonald-and-national-geographic-channel

 

Raising our next generation? Bob and Dannah Gresh have wonderful resources for parents of boys and girls, especially when it comes to their identity in Christ and sexual integrity. https://mytruegirl.com/   & https://borntobebrave.com/  (I do not receive any compensation from these organizations.)

Books:

Fisher, Brian. Deliver Us From Abortion.

Klusendorf, Scott. The Case for Life.

Gray, Stephanie. Love Unleashes Life.

Burke, Theresa. Forbidden Grief.

Forsythe, Clarke D. Abuse of Discretion: the inside story of Roe V Wade.